Your Guide to “Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures” Posted on February 3, 2025 at 9:00 am.Written by Heather Angel For centuries, the mysterious allure of ancient Egyptian culture fascinated scholars and political elites around the globe. With Howard Carter’s groundbreaking discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, a fascination with King Tut entered mainstream popular culture, sparking a renewed wave of “Egyptomania.” Unwrap a brief history of this groundbreaking discovery, an unexpected connection to Biltmore’s history, and more with your insider visit guide to the Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures exhibition on display at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. Kids Free During Spring & Summer: Share must-see experiences, like Tut, with the whole family with tickets that feature free* admission for kids, plus access to explore the estate gardens and grounds the next day! (*Limited offer. See link for details!) Tutankhamun, or King Tut, was a young pharaoh in Egypt over 3,300 years ago. Fast Facts About King Tut: Name: Tutankhamun (pronounced two-ten-ka-men, also known as “King Tut”) served as pharaoh of Egypt from 1332 to 1323 B.C., more than 3,300 years ago! Life & Death: Tut is sometimes called the “Boy King” because he ascended to the throne at only 9 years old. Tutankhamun died at age 18 or 19, likely due to illness. Historical Significance: Tutankhamun was considered to be a relatively unimportant historical figure until the 1922 discovery of his intact tomb in the Valley of the Kings by British archaeologist Howard Carter. The tomb’s remarkable completeness and the treasures it contained are the reasons Tutankhamun became such a prominent figure in ancient Egyptian history. Tut’s Treasures: The inside of his tomb was filled with magnificent treasures, including a golden mask, jewelry, furniture, statues, weapons, and, of course, the mummy of King Tut. Real vs Replica: The original artifacts from King Tut’s tomb are now permanently housed in Egypt and are no longer available for international travel or display. This exhibition features meticulously crafted, true-to-life replicas. Experience the groundbreaking discovery of King Tut’s tomb as if you were there in 1922 with archeologist, Howard Carter. (Archival image of Howard Carter ca 1919.) Discover Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures at Biltmore You don’t have to imagine yourself being in the Valley of the Kings at the time of this groundbreaking discovery… you’ll get to experience it! “This exhibition will transport you back in time to learn about the culture of Egypt as you follow the story of Howard Carter’s challenges and triumphs in making one of history’s most significant archaeological finds: the 1922 discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb,” said Travis Tatham, Director of Events & Guest Experience Development at Biltmore. Using media and objects, Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures culminates with the chance to experience the three-dimensional recreation of the excavation site, the legendary tomb, and precisely crafted replicas of its treasures exactly as they were at the moment of discovery. Vibrant watercolors from Lady “May” Cecil depict scenes from her travels to Egypt around the turn of the century. © The Biltmore Company Unwrapping Biltmore’s Unexpected Family Ties to King Tut “We are thrilled to host this King Tut exhibition because it gives us an extraordinary opportunity to share a Biltmore story that may surprise you,” says Travis. Not only did George and Edith Vanderbilt visit Egypt on several occasions—it was a very fashionable destination during their era, after all—but their daughter Cornelia Vanderbilt married the Honorable John Francis Amherst Cecil, whose family had a close friendship with Howard Carter. In fact, it was the Cecil family—particularly John Cecil’s mother, Mary “May” Rothes Tyssen-Amherst Cecil—who helped foster Carter’s interest in Egypt, which led to his legendary exploration of Egyptian antiquities. May’s childhood interest in and knowledge of Egypt inspired her to visit the country many times throughout her life, even leading excavations in the country. Biltmore’s archival collection contains travel journals and watercolor paintings from May’s travels to Egypt around the turn of the century. Tip: You’ll have the unique opportunity to learn more about the fascinating details of this Vanderbilt-Cecil family story during your Tutankhamun experience! Around 1,000 exquisitely crafted replicas of King Tut’s treasures are on display throughout the exhibition! Exploring Ethically: Replicas of Tut’s Treasures With all exhibitions presented at Biltmore, thorough research is conducted behind the scenes to ensure our guests will have access to world-class cultural experiences while visiting George Vanderbilt’s historic estate. The same is true for Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures. “There are ethical dimensions to the display of historic artifacts outside their country of origin, especially when the objects are associated with death and burial, and those that were removed as part of an imperial campaign, as is the case with the Tutankhamun collection,” shares Lori Garst, Curator of Collections at Biltmore. While some of the treasures from King Tut’s tomb have traveled internationally in the past, the original artifacts are now housed permanently in the newly constructed Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, which aims to preserve significant pieces of history and ensure local citizens have access to their cultural heritage. “By showcasing meticulously detailed replicas produced by expert Egyptian craftsmen, this exhibition provides an ethical, accessible, and utterly fascinating way for you to experience this remarkable history up close and without traveling to Egypt,” says Lori. All ages will enjoy this immersive experience recounting the astonishing details of King Tutankhamun’s life and legacy. Embark on Your Journey to the Valley of the Kings You don’t have to be an Egyptomaniac to appreciate the mysteries of one of the world’s most iconic discoveries. As enriching as it is unforgettable, you won’t want to miss the chance to pair Biltmore’s exclusive estate experiences with your immersive journey to the Valley of the Kings as you discover King Tut’s tomb. Be among the first to explore the mysteries of ancient Egypt while digging deeper into a surprising historical connection with Biltmore itself when you experience Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures, in Amherst at Deerpark®. Plan your visit: Admission tickets and special overnight stay packages are on sale now! Tip: Be sure to tag @biltmoreestate #BiltmoreTut when sharing your memories on social media!
Pools of Delight: Preserving Biltmore’s Italian Garden Posted on June 12, 2017 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux Pools of water in a garden are a delight for all the senses, and the pools in the Italian Garden next to Biltmore House are no exception. Aerial view of the three pools in the Italian Garden. The Italian Garden was created to offer a tranquil spot for enjoying magnificent reflections of America’s Largest Home®. The design, which includes three large pools filled with aquatic plants, remains remarkably true to the intention of Frederick Law Olmsted, Biltmore’s landscape architect. Caring for the Italian Garden pools For several years, Chuck Cissell’s primary responsibility as a member of Biltmore’s landscaping team has been the Italian Garden with a focus on the aquatic plants in the pools. It’s a job he enjoys year-round, especially when he can be in the pools caring for the breathtaking blooms that reach their peak in the summer months. Biltmore landscaping team members at work in the Italian Garden pools. Beginning in the fall, Chuck creates a plan for the Italian Garden pools. He places plant orders in April and May, and completes plant installations in June. Most of the aquatic plants come from Tricker’s Water Gardens—a company that was one of the first commercial water lily growers in the United States. Amazingly, it’s the same supplier that Olmsted used. “I order many of the same plants that Olmsted used from Tricker’s, but today there are new colors and hardier blooms because they’ve experimented with growing and hybridizing water lilies to improve the shape, colors, and hardiness,” said Chuck. “We always order new tropical water lilies and Victoria water platters with their huge lily pads. In one pool we have about 50 different lilies, including night-blooming varieties.” Historic plants in the pools White lotus (Nymphaea alba) blooming in the Italian Garden. In June, you’ll see more than 100 hardy and tropical water lilies begin blooming. The lotus bed display starts in early July, which is especially relevant in 2025 as a botanical tie to our Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures exhibition on display in Amherst at Deerpark® as the lotus was one of the symbols of ancient Egypt. The lotus flower, which is either blue or white (Nymphaea coerulea or alba), closes up at night and reopens in the morning to reveal a central yellow circle radiating yellow petals. To the ancient Egyptians this phenomenon reflected the rising of the sun at the dawn of creation, and the flower was honored as an image of daily rebirth and rejuvenation. Depictions of the water lily usually incorporate this symbolism, but the plant was also valued for its medicinal properties as a pain reliever. Glorious blooms all summer Summer beauty at peak bloom in the Italian Garden. The gigantic platter-shaped Victoria lilies are largest in late August. For the center pool display, Chuck uses plants including sweet potato vine, hibiscus, sun-tolerant bromeliads, and dwarf cannas. “I feed and fertilize the water lilies once a week; they are heavy feeders. And we groom three times a week from June to October. Grooming—that means removing the pollinated blooms—helps increase the number of blooms a lily produces,” said Chuck. Keeping the koi content Colorful koi in the Italian Garden pools. The filtration system in the pools is original 1895 technology, using constant water flowing into and out of the pools. The gravity-fed reservoir, which also used to provide water to Biltmore House, provides water for the pools. Natural filtration is beneficial to the colorful koi that populate the Italian Garden pools. We know from archival records that Olmsted wanted to have fish in the pools, and while we don’t know exactly when the koi were introduced, at least one is about 50 years old. Preserving Olmsted’s Italian Garden designs The Italian Garden features long-range views of Biltmore House and the mountains behind it. Because of the sheer volume of receipts, plans, and letters in Biltmore’s garden archives, Biltmore’s gardeners have only gone through a fraction of all the information available. For Chuck, that’s one of the most important elements of his job. “I really like the historic aspect of gardening here,” he said. “I have the joy of knowing I’m recreating the same thing that the Vanderbilts saw in 1895, and continuing that tradition.” Visit the Italian Garden now View of Biltmore House from the Italian Garden. Plan your summer visit to Biltmore today. It’s a great time to introduce your children to America’s Largest Home® as ages 16 and under are admitted free from Memorial Day to Labor Day when accompanied by a ticketed adult. In addition, now–September 1, 2025, enjoy special pricing on Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures with $10 admission tickets for youth (ages 10–16), and children 9 and under admitted FREE! Featured blog image: Reflection of Biltmore House in the Italian Garden pools